New Zealand's commitment to be 'responsible actor' in 'contested' space, 'prevent conflicts'

New Zealand has affirmed its commitment to being a "responsible actor" in space, described in a new document as a "contested and congested" domain.

It, alongside a number of other countries, wants to assist in preventing conflict in space, share intelligence and "professionalise" space cadres and training. 

Members of the Combined Space Operations (CSpO) initiative on Wednesday released their 'Vision 2031 statement' outlining their commitments for space. 

New Zealand joined the CSpO in 2015, for what the Defence Force says was an "opportunity to increase our knowledge of space operations, to bolster our efforts to promote a rules-based international order in space, and to strengthen our international relationships". The initiative is also comprised of Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the UK, and the US.

The document says the nations are partners in national security space operations, "leading as responsible actors and seeking and prepared to protect and defend against hostile space activities in accordance with applicable international law".

It describes their "mission" as being to "generate and improve cooperation, coordination and interoperability opportunities", which they believe will assist in sustaining "freedom of action in space, optimise resources, enhance assurance and resilience, and prevent conflict". 

According to the document, space is seen as being "integral to modern multi-domain military operations". 

"Space-based capabilities deliver a wide range of effects that underpin daily life, including communications, navigation, remote sensing, Earth observation, weather services, and financial transactions," the vision statement says. 

"Maintaining and supporting the availability of these capabilities are in the interest of each nation. Continued delivery of these capabilities requires complete access to and freedom to operate in space."

However, it describes space as having evolved into a "contested and congested operational domain". It says it is "more crowded" and its security and stability is "endangered". 

"Some nations have developed capabilities designed to deny, degrade, and disrupt access to and utilisation of space-based capabilities. These nations have demonstrated the ability to hold space-based capabilities at risk and to target critical assets in an effort to reduce our military effectiveness in a crisis or conflict. 

"Further, the lack of widely accepted norms of responsible behaviour and historical practice increases the possibility of misperceptions and the risks of escalation. 

"The convergence of these factors creates compelling strategic and operational urgency that serves as a call to action."

A number of shared principles, objectives and "lines of effort" are outlined in the document, highlighting the countries' desire to see international law upheld and there is the freedom to access and use space.

One of the objectives is to "prevent conflicts" extending to or originating in space. 

"By strengthening coordination, building resiliency, promoting responsible behaviour in space, enhancing partnership, and communicating transparently, we improve our national and collective abilities to prevent conflict and to promote security and stability in all domains."

By sharing intelligence, the nations hope to create a "unity of effort", while establishing "robust, responsive and interoperable space infrastructure" will be important in "the face of adverse action or changes to the space domain".

"Ensuring the continued function and resilience of equipment, facilities, networks, information and information systems, personnel, infrastructure, and supply chains, we seek to deny the benefit of interference and to ensure the availability of CSpO Participants’ national security mission-essential functions throughout the spectrum of military operations."

The nations are committed to "the defence and protection of our national interests and the space domain". They intend to "foster responsible military behaviours in space" and "professionalise space cadres and training". 

The vision document reinforces other commitments New Zealand has made about space, including through its support of the Artemis Accords, an agreement on the peaceful exploration of space.

Last year, it was announced that New Zealand's first Government-funded space mission would be run from a mission control centre based at the University of Auckland, launching a global methane tracking satellite.

The control base would be run for the first 12 months by Rocket Lab, a leader in small rocket services founded by New Zealander Peter Beck and which sometimes launches US military hardware from the Māhia Peninsula.

The use of Rocket Lab to send foreign military hardware into outer space has been controversial among some, including the Greens who want to see it banned. However, the Government can veto a launch if it isn't in the country's national interest. Rocket Lab has said legislation means it's not permissible to launch weapons.